Microsoft's Kinect motion addon for the Xbox 360 has been a huge success, not only in the retail world but in the hacker community as well. We've seen some awesome mods for the Kinect in the past few months of its release -- and finally, we've combined the Kinect world with WoW. The USC Institute for Creative Technologies has released a program called FAAST (Flexible Action and Articulated Skeleton Toolkit) that allows the Kinect to be used as a controller for off-the-shelf games.
Check out the video of Kinect being used to control a World of Warcraft character. The software emulator acts as a layer over the keyboard, reading movement as key presses. Personally, I love that the depth sensors of the Kinect can be used to move backwards and forwards by leaning forward and back. So awesome.
Now all we need to do is connect a Kinect to WoW, get a Dance Dance Revolution pad, put that on top of a quick heating stove and we can finally get people to move out of the fire.
I saw a guy over at Kotaku playing SuperMario with kinect however it did not really work out that well. However this looks like a viable way to play WoW. Maybe not for hardcore progression/PVP/Arena but certainly for leveling and the like.
See with archeology you could really dig something up!
Dec 29th 2010 at 2:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
anuillae Dec 29th 2010 2:09PM
I'm almost certain that the acronym would be FAAT, rather than FAAST. Perhaps they changed it because of us poor gamer's oversensitivity?
(cutaia) Dec 29th 2010 2:13PM
Haha...nice catch. I believe it's a typo on WoW Insider's part. Should be "Flexible Action and Articulated Skeleton Toolkit."
Mathew Dec 29th 2010 2:16PM
My bad. Fixed.
JC_Icefox Dec 29th 2010 2:19PM
According to the video, it ought to say 'Articulated Skeleton', so I think it's a missed word is all.
t0xic Dec 29th 2010 2:20PM
FAAT:
Shattering the no-life, basement dwelling, mouth breathing, overweight gamer stereotype. One fat ass at a time.
Now that's marketing.
(cutaia) Dec 29th 2010 2:11PM
Now all we need to do is connect a Kinect to WoW, get a Dance Dance Revolution pad, put that on top of a quick heating stove and we can finally get people to move out of the fire.
Silversol Dec 29th 2010 2:36PM
I'd hate to be in a zone with deathwing with that setup.
Somner Dec 29th 2010 3:03PM
I was thinking we could use that DDR pad for a Dance Studio instead.
JC_Icefox Dec 29th 2010 2:13PM
We are so close to reaching that magical point where I can yell 'LIGHTNING BOLT' in my basement and something actually happens.
Also, raiding will turn into something more akin to aerobics.
"Why didn't you move out of the fire, Warlock?"
"Pulled my Hamstring D:"
"L2Warmup Noob"
Ikarus Dec 29th 2010 3:05PM
Lol...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ekugPKqFw
Hamsnack Dec 29th 2010 3:32PM
I loled hard at this
Lipstick Dec 29th 2010 4:02PM
I so laughed at L2 warmup .. classic!
Dannyboy Dec 29th 2010 2:12PM
I saw a guy over at Kotaku playing SuperMario with kinect however it did not really work out that well. However this looks like a viable way to play WoW. Maybe not for hardcore progression/PVP/Arena but certainly for leveling and the like.
See with archeology you could really dig something up!
VioCondios Dec 29th 2010 2:13PM
Wow O.O
Alerixa Dec 29th 2010 2:16PM
It's Flexible Action and Articulated Skeletal Toolkit, missed the Skeletal that's all
Caliea Dec 29th 2010 2:17PM
"Huntard! Why'd you pull that mob?!?!"
"... sorry... I sneezed..."
trefpoid Dec 29th 2010 2:20PM
We might actually be able to lose weight playing wow now D: awesome
chris Dec 29th 2010 2:27PM
hahah sorry i did not mean to wipe the group but my back really itched.....
yunkndatwunk Dec 29th 2010 2:30PM
Steven Segal sure seems subdued talking through the last minute of the video. I'd expect him to say "use this or I'll break your arms!"
Dan Dec 29th 2010 5:07PM
Did you listen to what the man had to say or did you judge him based on his appearance?
Besides, he looked more like Jim Belushi.